A Pennsylvania court has ruled in favor of the Trump campaign, mandating an extension for mail-in ballot applications in Bucks County.
According to Fox News, this decision extends the application deadline to November 1st, providing more time for voters.
The legal victory led by former President Donald Trump's campaign, along with the Republican National Committee (RNC) and Republican Senate candidate Dave McCormick, responded to concerns of voter suppression during the ballot application process.
The extension came after allegations that local election officials prematurely ceased accepting applications.
On October 29, hours before the original deadline, Bucks County officials reportedly stopped allowing applicants to join the line, effectively disenfranchising potential voters who had until 5:00 p.m. to submit their requests.
The injunction, issued by the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, now allows eligible voters to apply for mail-in ballots until the close of business on November 1.
Michael Whatley, a spokesman for the Trump campaign, highlighted the significance of the ruling. He stated, “We just won the Trump Campaign/RNC lawsuit against Bucks County, PA. We will now have extended early in-person mail voting through November 1st — three extra days. We will keep fighting. Go vote! Stay in line!”
The courthouse clarified the injunction’s specifics after the Board of Elections sought guidance. The extension only applies to their Doylestown location and is effective from October 30 to November 1, during regular business hours.
Karoline Leavitt, a representative of the campaign, expressed how the recent events underscored the necessity of the lawsuit. "Just two days ago, a Trump supporter was arrested in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, for encouraging voters to stay in line, and we have seen multiple other instances of voters being turned away early in Bucks County, Pennsylvania," explained Leavitt. "That's why last night, the Trump campaign and the RNC, we filed a lawsuit against Bucks County to provide more early voting opportunities, and we just won that lawsuit just about 30 minutes ago."
The decision occurred amidst a backdrop of a heavily attended rally by Trump at Madison Square Garden, only days before the court's ruling.
Meanwhile, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro had affirmed October 29 at 5 p.m. as the original deadline for mail-in applications, setting the stage for this judicial correction.
Campaign spokesperson Karoline Leavitt praised the court's decision as a landmark victory, emphasizing its significance in the broader context of voting rights and election integrity:
And we are going to continue to fight for that until the last ballot is counted. Today's big victory represents a defeat for the Democrats' voter suppression efforts. They are seeing the early voting numbers from Republicans in key states across the country, and we are very much again, focused on securing the vote for all Americans.
These developments reflect a contentious environment around voting processes in battleground states, where both major parties vie for every possible advantage. With extended deadlines and heightened scrutiny of the electoral procedures, Bucks County voters now have additional opportunities to ensure their participation in the democratic process.
